6 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . I'm awake early and up before everyone else, showered and hungry - enjoy a yogurt and some fruit before packing away our bedding and collapsing the tents. The others want a cooked breakfast, then we discuss logistics before driving the two cars to Keyhaven and Highcliffe – I somehow get myself a rest on the beach, eating chocolate biscuits, chatting and reading my book. Then we set off to continue the walk. The Isle of Wight is now behind us as we head towards Milford on Sea and Barton. At first the Solent Path has the shingle beach to [...]

5.5 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . Wake up early having not slept too well in the tent but I am so excited to be going to play crazy golf!! Enjoy a few grapes and a peppermint tea for breakfast then head over to Lymington Adventure Golf. We are first in the queue! We have an hour or so of fun and frustration hitting a little yellow ball around the Astro turf trying hard not to hit into the water and rocks. The highlight is the little wooden ferry that actually moves over the water – awesome. Sadly, the final result doesn't reflect my recent practice [...]

13 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . We meander our way from home through the New Forest to Hurst View Campsite at Lymington.  Sadly, it starts to rain and blow a gale as we are putting up the tent and the inevitable happens, a pole breaks - I'm really upset as was really looking forward to this moment. Manage to just about mend it with the help of some blue tape borrowed from the campsite reception, enjoy lunch in the tent then call a cab to take us to Bucklers Hard. We follow the footpath down to the quaint row of houses leading to the water. [...]

4 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . It's a quick drive down to the coast at Calshot Castle with views of the Fawley Power Station towers to my left. Finally, I can see the sea peeping through the beach huts and park up in an empty car park, pay the fee and walk through the huts to the beach. Straight ahead I can see land - the Isle of Wight is super close from this spot! Feels almost like you could skim a stone across! I turn left and wander down the road towards the Calshot activity centre and the start of my walk.  Today I [...]

12 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . Wake up at the Hamble Retreat and head for breakfast, no sign of Nick our host who we played snooker with last night. Breakfast is ok - confuses Nigel when she says "help yourself from the bain-marie! Head to Gosport, parking near the golf course and wander along the coast passed the numerous fishermen towards Portsmouth. Sadly our way is soon blocked by a barbed wire fence. We can see glimpses of the Spinnaker Tower over the estuary, and Portsmouth Old Town - in particular the lovely pub we sat at in the sunshine only a few weeks ago. [...]

6.5 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . Wake up in our hotel in Portsmouth.. the room with a view turns out to be looking at the shopping centre with the Spinnaker Tower poking over the top! Shower, pack bags which we stow in the car and head for breakfast.. feels like we are in the kitchen!  I have a baby croissant and a banana and a cup of tea. The receptionist calls us a taxi, he's a very chatty man as he drives us to the Hayling Island ferry. He tells us about the restaurants and pier that have closed down and the intriguing military compound [...]

4.5 Miles Miles walked since starting. . . Wake up feeling rather jaded from yesterday's walk, enjoy breakfast then pack up and drive be round Chichester harbour toward Hayling Island. Head as far East as we can and park up at Creek Road car park, where parking fees appear to have been abandoned for the winter months and sadly the wooly hat is back on for today's coastal stroll. Wander along the pathway to find the farthest eastern corner of the island before setting the garmin and starting our stroll. A small nature reserves at the eastern tip abruptly ends with a row of rather stark houses. [...]